Backroom Baz: Has Adem Somyurek found peace with Anthony Byrne over secret tape scandal?

Adem Somyurek has hinted he’s finally come to terms with his downfall in the secret tape scandal. Backroom Baz with all the Spring St scuttlebutt.

Has former Andrews government MP Adem Somyurek made his peace?

Baz isn’t sure but a perplexing tweet put out this week certainly suggests a different tone for the upper house MP who was engulfed in a secret tapes scandal last year.

The public message was lobbed directly at his “erstwhile brother” and federal Labor MP Anthony Byrne – “after the initial shock i am now content with my lot – will you ever be?” he wrote.

In a remarkably highbrow move for the social media platform, he then included a screenshot of a Shakespeare quote.

“Though those that are betray’d do feel the treason sharply, yet the traitor stands in worse case of woe,” the quote read.

To my erstwhile brother ⁦@anthonybyrnemp⁩, after the initial shock i am now content with my lot - will you ever be? pic.twitter.com/y3K4jML5jV

— Adem Somyurek MP (@AdemSomyurek) August 29, 2021

Relations between the two are not great after Byrne’s office was revealed to be the place where many of the tapes were secretly recorded.

Somyurek is pushing on with a defamation case against Nine over the scandal, but otherwise his movements remain a mystery.

Could Adem Somyurek have made his peace? Picture: David Geraghty

SECRET LIFE OF PETS

Last year Baz narrowly missed out on a Walkley for his coverage of MP Harriet Shing’s tiny asses otherwise known as dwarf donkeys.

But this column is known for its dogged pursuit of equine issues and has yet another scoop in the field of four-legged friends.

Andy Meddick from the Animal Justice Party. Picture: David Crosling

Andy Meddick and Gary Maas.

Enter Andy Meddick’s chief of staff Georgie Purcell, who helped to lift the lockdown mood this week by celebrating Duncan the donkey’s 41st birthday. Although his birth records are murky, this donkey is potentially older than many MPs and definitely more reasonable!

It comes as Baz’s spies noticed an adorable series of photos coming out of the government’s Task Force on Rehoming Pets – the cute factor is just what we need right now.

I know there’s a lot of doom and gloom in the world right now — but today is my DONKEY’S 41ST BIRTHDAY!

Pls send him well wishes and also stern words about not eating candles. pic.twitter.com/v2L1vg1qL4

— Georgie Purcell (@georgievpurcell) August 30, 2021

It looks like chair Andy Meddick and fellow task force member Gary Maas have just been busy cuddling puppies and kittens over the past few months, along with the goss that Meddick recruited a rescue kitten, Shrimp, to the team.

However, Baz is assured they really have been working – alongside task force member Maree Edwards – on how to improve pet rehoming in Victoria.

Maybe they could help a few fellow MPs get out of the doghouse.

Andy Meddick and Gary Maas.

COLOURING IN THE PARTY LINES

Does your child consider Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong as exciting as Bluey or the Wiggles?

If you answered yes – you will soon be reported to the local authorities. While waiting for them to arrive, why not pass the time with a colouring book released by the Australian Labor Party to let kids draw on “some iconic moments in Labor’s and this country’s history”.

Throw out your Pokemon merch because your kids will be far more entertained colouring in pictures of Albo outside Parliament House, Bob Hawke on Sydney Harbour and Julia Gillard delivering her misogyny speech.

The kids will go wild! It is possible young children of colouring book age are more politically active than Baz remembers but odds are this will be a flop. If children can be brainwashed to pester for toys, maybe Labor thinks they might be brainwashed into future voters.

“While we made this for kids it isn’t just for kids, anyone is welcome to have a go. Let’s see how creative you can all get!” the website reads.

No thank you.

Brad Battin. Picture: Josie Hayden

TIK TOK, IT MUST BE BRAD O CLOCK

Baz must admit – he’s become quite fond of social media in recent times.

But even he won’t go near is TikTok – those endless dance trends and cover songs are almost too much to bear.

So you can only imagine where Baz’s mind took him when his (much younger and more tech savvy) spies this week spotted none other than Brad Battin, the member for Gembrook and Opposition Leader wannabe, on TikTok. Battin’s so far used the platform to spruik his local community giveaways and savage the Premier.

But Baz is told there’s more stuff coming, so watch this space closely.

Just please Brad, no dancing.

NOW THAT IS JUST FARCICAL

Most people will admit the daily coronavirus pressers are farcically long, but now they’re becoming just farcical!

The weather was warm on Thursday so no one complained about an update with Health Minister Martin Foley in parliament’s back gardens – until it actually started.

Gale-force winds made it impossible to hear what anyone was saying, microphones were blown over and pollen and leaves flew into people’s eyes.

This was interspersed with extremely loud heavy machinery being put to work, barking dogs, camera lights running out of battery and a boom mike that may have clipped a few ears.

All it needed was John Cleese doing a silly walk and the Benny Hill theme to top it off.

OVERHEARD BY BAZ

“We don’t have to have definitive evidence that that person gave it to that person”
— Chief health officer Brett Sutton hits back at probes into his playground ban decision.

GOT ANY SCUTTLEBUTT FOR BAZ?

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Twitter: @backroombaz